Willbros Wins Final Dismissal

Willbros Group, Inc. said in an SEC filing that the FCPA charges against it were formally dismissed this month.

After the three-year deferred prosecution agreement and monitorship expired on March 30, the DOJ asked the federal court in Houston to dismiss the criminal charges. The judge signed an order of dismissal with prejudice on April 2, meaning the the enforcement action is now formally closed.

Under its deferred prosecution agreement, Willbros was required to retain a monitor and beef up compliance.

The Houston-based company provides project management and related services to the oil and gas industry. It trades on NASDAQ under the symbol WG.

Three former Willbros executives and a consultant were charged with FCPA violations.

In early 2010, Jim Bob Brown was sentenced in federal court in Houston to a year and a day in prison and fined $17,500. Jason Edward Steph was sentenced to 15 months and fined $2,000.

A Willbros’ consultant, Paul Novak, pleaded guilty in November 2009 to paying $6 million in bribes to officials from the Nigerian government, government-owned companies, and a political party there. He’s been helping the DOJ and hasn’t been sentenced.

James “Ken” Tillery, the former managing director for Willbros in Nigeria, was indicted with Novak. He’s still a fugitive.

Founder of the FCPA Blog and Editor at Large. He has been named multiple times as one of the 100 Most Influential People In Business Ethics by Ethisphere Magazine and is a Trust Across America Top Thought Leader. He’s a member of the DC, Virginia, and Florida bars. His At Large column is a regular feature of the FCPA Blog.

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